Ward reveals ten specific failings that are built into our boardroom model and provides real-world fixes to get boards back on track. Ward mixes tart, insightful analogies (what do boards have in common with volunteer fire departments, the U.S. electoral college . . . and Howard Hughes?) with proven nuts-and-bolts advice for putting any board back on track.
Order your copy today!
Ward reveals ten specific failings that are built into our boardroom model and provides real-world fixes to get boards back on track. Ward mixes tart, insightful analogies (what do boards have in common with volunteer fire departments, the U.S. electoral college . . . and Howard Hughes?) with proven nuts-and-bolts advice for putting any board back on track.
Order your copy today!
Reason #10 The Data Disaster: Boards Receive Too Little, Too Much (or
Just Plain Bad) Information 1
Reason #9 The Boardroom Leadership Gap: The Board Oversees (at the Same Time
It Is Led by) the CEO 17
Reason #8 The Boardroom Amateurs Syndrome: Inadequate Time, Resources, and
Expertise for the Job 45
Reason #7 Financials, Frauds, and Fumbles: Why "Audit Committee" Is an
Oxymoron 71
Reason #6 So What Exactly Is the Board Supposed to Do?: Competing (If Not
Conflicting) Governance Agendas 99
Reason #5 The Howard Hughes Syndrome: Directors Are Cut off from Staff,
Shareholders, and Major Decisions 123
Reason #4 "Does Anyone Know Why We're Here?": Poor Board Meetings and
Logistics 145
Reason #3 We Dont Talk about That: Boards Do a Lousy Job of Handling Their
Personal Issues 167
Reason #2 The Exploding Job Description: We Have No Idea How to Evaluate,
Motivate, or Pay Directors 189
Reason #1 The Elephant in the Boardroom: Boards Dont Handle Bad News Well
207
Conclusion 223
Index 227
RALPH D. WARD is a nationally recognized writer and commentator on the roles of boards of directors and the future of corporate governance worldwide. He is publisher of Boardroom INSIDER, an online e-mail newsletter of firsthand advice for better boards, and edits the Corporate Board, an international journal of corporate governance. He speaks and consults extensively on boardroom issues in the United States and internationally, and is the author of 21st Century Corporate Board and Improving Corporate Boards, both published by Wiley.
